O.J. Simpson, the former football star and celebrity known for his high-profile legal battles, passed away on April 10 at the age of 76 after a battle with prostate cancer. His longtime lawyer, Malcom LaVergne, shared details of Simpson's final days, revealing that Simpson was surrounded by a close family member at the time of his death.
Simpson's adult children, Arnelle and Jason from his first marriage, and Sydney and Justin from his marriage to Nicole Brown Simpson, released a statement asking for privacy and grace during this difficult time. LaVergne emphasized the challenges faced by Simpson's children, who had to share their father with the world and deal with the controversies surrounding him.
LaVergne, who is handling Simpson's estate, disclosed that Simpson had expressed his wish to be cremated and that his children would honor those wishes. The attorney also mentioned that there were no immediate plans for a public memorial, with only tentative discussions of a celebration of life ceremony.
Simpson's last will and testament named his four children as the beneficiaries of his estate, with details of a family trust yet to be filed. LaVergne refrained from putting a value on the estate but mentioned that accounts were still being tallied.
Despite Simpson's acquittal in the criminal trial for the deaths of his ex-wife and her friend in 1994, he was found liable in a civil court case in 1997. Simpson spent nine years in prison for armed robbery in Las Vegas before his release in 2017, after which he led a golf-and-country club lifestyle.
LaVergne acknowledged that Simpson had not paid the majority of the $33.5 million judgment owed to the families of the victims from the civil case. The attorney stated that the amount owed, including interest, was over $200 million, but Simpson's assets would not cover that sum.
Attorney David Cook, representing the Goldman family, expressed that the judgment owed today exceeds $114 million. LaVergne invited the families to review his findings but indicated that they would need to pursue any additional assets independently.
